How to Choose the Right Lock for Every Type of Gate

A homeowner in Pretoria closes the sliding driveway gate, walks through the pedestrian gate beside it and locks that too. Both gates are steel. Both look solid. But the sliding gate’s lock has started catching, and the pedestrian gate’s lock is a padlock on a hasp. Two gates, two very different weak points.

Choosing locks for gates isn’t one decision. A lock that works perfectly on a swing gate can be useless on a sliding gate, and a lock built for a light garden gate won’t hold a steel security gate. This guide explains which locks for gates suit each gate design, and what to check before you buy.

Why the Type of Gate Changes the Lock You Need

Every gate moves differently, and every movement creates a different way to force it open. That is why locks for gates have to match the gate’s design:

• Swing gates pivot on hinges, so the attack point is the gap between the gate and the post, where a crowbar can lever the lock.
• Sliding gates move sideways on a track, so the lock must stop the gate being slid, lifted or pushed off the track.
• Double gates have two leaves that meet in the middle, so both leaves must be locked to each other and to the ground or frame.
• Pedestrian gates are opened many times a day, so the lock must be quick to use without becoming the weak link.

The stakes are real. SAPS figures for April to June 2026 recorded 29,722 cases of burglary at residential premises in a single quarter. That was 7.3% fewer than a year earlier, but it is still more than 300 every day. When the Portfolio Committee on Police reviewed Stats SA’s crime survey, physical home security measures were the most common step South African households said they had taken to protect themselves. A gate is one of the first things those measures rely on, and the lock is what holds it.

Locks for Swing Gates

Single swing gates and steel burglar gates on doors are the most common gates in South African homes, and they have the widest choice of locks for gates. Because the lock sits at the edge where the gate meets the post, it takes most of the force in an attack.

Look for:

1. A weld-in lock that becomes part of the gate frame, with no external bolts to remove.
2. A solid steel pin that locks into the frame, rather than a thin latch.
3. Emergency locking, so you can lock the gate with one hand when you need to get inside fast.

The Ultra-Small Lock™ Mk1 and Mk2, the Ultra-Slim Lock™ and the Mini Ultra Lock™ are all designed for single swinging doors and gates. The Mk2, for example, has a 12mm solid steel pin and a larger emergency locking push pin. You can compare them on the products page.

Locks for Sliding Gates

Sliding gates are popular where space is tight, but they have a weakness swing gates don’t: they can be forced sideways or lifted off their track. A lock for a sliding gate needs to resist both.

When choosing locks for gates that slide, check that:

• The lock engages through a lug or keeper, so the gate can’t be slid open even under pressure
• The housing resists crowbar wedging, because the gap between a sliding gate and the wall is an easy place to lever
• The gate itself runs properly, because a gate that drags or jumps the track puts strain on the lock

The Ultra-Multi Purpose Lock™ was designed for this. Its pin locks through a lock lug, which gives more resistance to crowbar wedging and makes it suitable for sliding gates as well as single and double swing gates. If your sliding gate is sticking, the problem may be the wheels rather than the lock. Our guide to choosing sliding gate wheels explains how to match wheel size and load rating to your gate.

Locks for Double Gates

Double gates are common on driveways and commercial entrances. The challenge is that there are two leaves, and if only one is secured, the other can be forced open from the middle.

To lock a double gate properly:

• Secure the fixed leaf to the ground or frame with a drop bolt or barrel bolt
• Lock the active leaf to the fixed leaf with a lock designed for double gates, such as the Ultra-Multi Purpose Lock™
• Make sure the two leaves overlap or meet closely, so there is no gap for a lever

Locks for Pedestrian Gates

Pedestrian gates beside a driveway get used constantly: deliveries, visitors, school runs. That makes them the gate most likely to be left on the latch, and the one where a weak padlock is most tempting.

A good pedestrian gate lock is:

• Quick to lock, ideally with one hand, so it’s actually used every time
• Keyed alike with your other gates if you want one key for the property. Read more in What Is a Keyed Alike Lock Set?
• Welded in, because a frequently used gate wears out surface-mounted fixings quickly

Locks for Industrial, Estate and Commercial Gates

Gates at estates, warehouses and business premises need tougher locks for gates because they are used far more often than home gates, and often by many different people. They need heavier construction and simple key control.

For these sites, look for:

1. Thicker steel housings, such as the 3mm mild steel used on the Ultra-C Double Pin Lock™ and Ultra-Multi Purpose Lock™
2. Keyed-alike sets, so staff or residents don’t carry a ring of different keys
3. A mechanical lock as a backup to any electric access control, so the gate stays secure if the power goes off

Don’t Forget the Weather

Outdoor locks for gates face sun, rain and dust every day, and corrosion is a bigger issue than many people expect. Research published in the South African Journal of Science mapped how fast mild steel corrodes across the country. Some of the highest rates were found in industrial inland areas such as Germiston and Sasolburg, not only at the coast.

To protect a gate lock from the weather:

• Choose locks with corrosion-resistant inner parts. Yellow zinc electroplated inner parts are available on several Ultralock models.
• Keep moving parts lubricated and check them every few months
• Read What Makes a Gate Lock Weatherproof? for more detail

Common Mistakes When Choosing Locks for Gates

1. Choosing on price alone. The cheapest lock often has thin steel and exposed fixings, and needs replacing sooner.
2. Using the wrong lock for the gate. A lock made for a swing gate may not stop a sliding gate being forced sideways.
3. Ignoring the fitting. A strong lock that is badly welded or misaligned will wear fast and may not latch properly.
4. Forgetting the other gates. A strong lock on the driveway gate doesn’t help if the pedestrian gate uses a padlock.

To compare the different kinds of locks themselves, from weld-in locks and lock boxes to padlocks and electric locks, read our guide to the types of security gate locks.

Conclusion

The right locks for gates depend on the gate itself. Swing gates need a strong pin at the post, sliding gates need a lock that stops sideways force, double gates need both leaves secured, and pedestrian gates need a lock that is quick enough to use every time. Industrial and estate gates need heavier steel and simple key control. Whatever the gate, a welded steel lock with a protected mechanism and corrosion-resistant parts gives you the best chance of keeping it shut.

Need Help Matching a Lock to Your Gate?

Not sure which lock suits your swing, sliding or double gate? Ultralock makes weldable locks for swing, sliding and double gates, from the Ultra-Small Lock™ for single gates to the Ultra-Multi Purpose Lock™ for sliding and double gates. Contact us with your gate type and we’ll help you choose the right lock, or browse the full range.